Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Harawi
Encyclopedia
Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Harawi (fl.
1492-1518 and died 1542) was a Persian late 15th century physician
from Herat
, now part of Afghanistan
.
In 1518 he composed, in Arabic
, an alphabetical medical dictionary
and encyclopedia. It covered anatomical
and pathological
terms and concepts, medicinal substances, and prominent physicians, with all the entries arranged alphabetically. This medical lexicon titled 'Jawahir al-lughah wa-Bahr al-jawahir' has three chapters: the first explaining terminology for parts of the body (in alphabetical order), the second on the names of simple and compound drugs (also in alphabetical order), and the third on names of diseases, presented in order from head to toe according to their locations. An autograph copy of Jawahir al-lughah exists in which the author states that he completed the correction of the treatise in 1492 (London, Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine, MS Arab. 143).
His another work, “Ainul Hayat” is based on Ageing
. The original manuscript of Ainul Hayat was scribed in 1532 by the author in Herat
. There are 4 copies of this old manuscript reported in various libraries of the world. It is stated that this is the first text on ageing in the world. After collation of these existed 4 copies of the manuscript, Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman
edited and translated the manuscript in 2007. In the edited book, one can find how amazingly the author 500 years back discussed all types of behavioral and lifestyle factors including diet, environment and housing conditions related to ageing. He also discussed what drugs could increase and decrease ageing.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1492-1518 and died 1542) was a Persian late 15th century physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
from Herat
Herat
Herāt is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan...
, now part of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
In 1518 he composed, in Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
, an alphabetical medical dictionary
Medical dictionary
A medical dictionary is a lexicon for words used in medicine. The three major English language medical dictionaries are Stedman's, Taber's, and Dorland's Pocket Medical Dictionary. Other significant medical dictionaries are distributed by Elsevier, the world's largest publisher of medical and...
and encyclopedia. It covered anatomical
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
and pathological
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
terms and concepts, medicinal substances, and prominent physicians, with all the entries arranged alphabetically. This medical lexicon titled 'Jawahir al-lughah wa-Bahr al-jawahir' has three chapters: the first explaining terminology for parts of the body (in alphabetical order), the second on the names of simple and compound drugs (also in alphabetical order), and the third on names of diseases, presented in order from head to toe according to their locations. An autograph copy of Jawahir al-lughah exists in which the author states that he completed the correction of the treatise in 1492 (London, Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine, MS Arab. 143).
His another work, “Ainul Hayat” is based on Ageing
Ageing
Ageing or aging is the accumulation of changes in a person over time. Ageing in humans refers to a multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change. Some dimensions of ageing grow and expand over time, while others decline...
. The original manuscript of Ainul Hayat was scribed in 1532 by the author in Herat
Herat
Herāt is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan...
. There are 4 copies of this old manuscript reported in various libraries of the world. It is stated that this is the first text on ageing in the world. After collation of these existed 4 copies of the manuscript, Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman
Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman
Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman , is well known for his contribution to Unani medicine. He founded Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine and Sciences in 2000...
edited and translated the manuscript in 2007. In the edited book, one can find how amazingly the author 500 years back discussed all types of behavioral and lifestyle factors including diet, environment and housing conditions related to ageing. He also discussed what drugs could increase and decrease ageing.
See also
- List of Iranian scientists